Thursday, 27 August, 2009 , 14:44 AFP — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made an emotional appeal to the nation Thursday to back planned reforms to expand the Kurdish minority's freedoms and end a bloody insurgency in the southeast.

Thursday, 27 August, 2009 , 04:08 AFP — Blending traditional folk music with pop beats, sultry gyrations and plunging necklines, the musical phenomenon that is Dashni Murad is shaking Iraq's conservative northern Kurdistan region.

Tuesday, 25 August, 2009 , 15:50 AFP — A government plan to expand the rights of the restive Kurdish community must not endanger Turkey's unity, the country's military chief warned Tuesday, again ruling out dialogue with Kurdish rebels.

Tuesday, 25 August, 2009 , 11:11 AFP — Efforts towards reconciliation with the Kurdish community must not endanger the unity of the country, Turkey's army chief warned Tuesday, again ruling out talks with Kurdish rebels.

Sunday, 23 August, 2009 , 15:14 AFP — Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have killed 26 Kurdish rebels in northwestern Iran, a commander of the guards was quoted as saying on Sunday by the Fars news agency.

Sunday, 23 August, 2009 , 14:42 AFP — Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have killed 26 Kurdish rebels in northwestern Iran, a commander of the guards was quoted as saying on Sunday by the Fars news agency.

Thursday, 20 August, 2009 , 09:27 AFP — The Iraqi government on Thursday officially accepted the resignation of one of its two deputy prime ministers, Barham Saleh, who plans to become premier of the autonomous region of Kurdistan.

Thursday, 20 August, 2009 , 09:02 AFP — Two Kurdish men were killed and two others wounded when gunmen attacked a political party's offices in the disputed Iraqi province of Diyala, security and medical officials said on Thursday.

Wednesday, 19 August, 2009 , 07:57 AFP — The Kurdish language could be introduced as an elective course in Turkish schools, a newspaper reported Wednesday, as the government pursues reforms aimed at eroding support for Kurdish separatists.

Monday, 17 August, 2009 , 19:23 AFP — The United States is discussing arrangements that could see its troops work alongside Iraqi and Kurdish forces in disputed areas of northern Iraq, the senior American commander said on Monday.